One of my most favourite of favourite local events is the Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema. Which is in it’s 11th YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Put on by the awesome Joseph Chen, the festival showcases many never shown in Canada animated films – some for kids, some definitely NOT for kids!
You can check out the full schedule and ticket information HERE. But i would probably recommend checking out either of the 9pm showings for something a little more on the adult content side:
9pm FRIDAY: El Sol (The Sun)
This hysterical and utterly insane film deliberately steps over every line there is, waving a middle finger at film conventions great and small.
Set in a post nuclear-apocalyptic Buenos Aires, Once and his junkie girlfriend wander through a world filled with mutants, dreaming cats, living radioactive potatoes with arms, clowns, and all sorts of characters good, bad and ridiculous.
El Sol is the first animated feature film from the studio Crudo Films. Director Ayar Blasco was born in 1975 in Buenos Aires. He is a scriptwriter, cartoonist, and comic book artist. He studied film animation at the Instituto de Artes Cinematográficas of Avellaneda, Argentina. Blasco is the co-founder of the production company Malcriados (together with Juan Antín). They have produced a number of short films, and in 2001 they produced their first feature film Mercano, el Marciano. El Solis his first animated feature film as director.
Be sure to stick around for the ending credits!
Special event! Feeling like Halloween didn’t quite scratch that costume itch? Want to show the world what your inner Mad Max looks like? Then come on out to El Sol dressed up, post apocalyptic style. Zombies? Sure! Radioactive potatoes? Sure! Teenaged mutant ninja turtles? Sure! And because we think dressing up is so cool, come dressed up and your ticket will be just $5! Save up to $7 per ticket!
And – one more thing. After the film, stay for a heart-thumping hardcore music extravaganza, post apocalypse style! Featuring three bands who will turn the dial up to 11 and the good energy through the roof! Zombies in the mosh pit… only at WFAC!
9pm SATURDAY: Chico and Rita
Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and desire unite them, and their dreams drive them apart. The journey of the lovers – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings them heartache and torment.
Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Spain’s most famous and successful designer Javier Mariscal come together to create a passionate and animated love story. Celebrating the music and the culture of Cuba, the epic story of love and hearbreak is set against the colour and bustle of Havana, New York, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Paris in the late 1940′s and early 1950′s.
With an original soundtrack by legendary Cuban pianist, bandleader and composer Bebo Valdés, Chico and Rita captures a definitive moment in the evolution of jazz music. The soundtrack features music by jazz legends Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie and Freddy Cole.
Ok. The Point is – this is a wicked, indie, awesome film festival of stuff you will probably never ever see again ever. So… make a plan with your friends and go see this stuff.
Single admission tix for adults are $12, students are $10.
There’s also festival passes for $60 if you want to check out a couple films.The venue is the Chrysalids Theatre… aka the Gig Theatre… aka that crazy movie theatre under the office tower at Ontario and Weber. Street parking, and lot parking on Duke @ Ontario.
AND, i don’t want to make you think this is adult only – there’s definitely a ton of great kid friendly stuff too. Again, check out the full listings HERE.
Or follow them on the Twits HERE.Happy Animated Cinema Watching!
H.
